Liquid shock absorbing buffer

ABSTRACT

An impact cushioning device for buffering the impact of a vehicle colliding with a stationary vertical surface. The device comprises a wall of liquid filled flexible, collapsible energy absorbing and dissipating cells disposed between the stationary vertical surface and movable articulated and overlapping diaphragm fender panels which are supported on slide plates. At impact, the fluid in the energy absorbing and dissipating cells is forced upward through a sharp-edged orifice which regulates the release of fluid commensurate with the force of impact. The outermost diaphragm panel is composed of a material having a low coefficient of friction to aid in safely redirecting the vehicle safely subsequent to impact.

United States Patent Young et a1.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 [54] LIQUID SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER Energy AbsorptionSystems, Inc., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 74,664

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S.Cl .267/116, 9/8,61/48, 104/254, 104/256, 114/219, 188/1 B,188/266, 188/298, 256/1, 256/13.1, 267/139, 293/1, 293/60,

293/64 [51] Int. Cl. ..E02b 3/22, F1 6f 5/00, F16f 9/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..61/46, 48; 104/249, 254, 256;

114/219; 188/1 B, 1 C, 32,129, 266, 298', 256/1, 13.1; 267/116, 139;293/1, 70, 71 R, 71 P, 60,64;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,722,906 11/1955 Tweddell..61/48 X 3,447,786 6/1969 Bigni ..256/13.1 2,974,934 3/1961 White..256/13.1 2,062,919 12/1936 Maas ..114/219 3,503,600 3/1970 Rich...293/1 X 970,848 9/1910 Patronaggio. 114/219 1,623,888 4/1927 Pasini...1 14/219 3,602,151 8/1971 Walker et a1. ..104/256 PrimaryExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-l-loward BeltranAttorney-Hume, Clement, Hume & Lee

This patent filed under Rule 47a 57 ABSTRACT An impact cushioning devicefor buffering the impact of a vehicle colliding with a stationaryvertical surface. The device comprises a wall of liquid filled flexible,collapsible energy absorbing and dissipating cells disposed between thestationary vertical surface and movable articulated and overlappingdiaphragm fender panels which are supported on slide plates. At impact,the fluid in the energy absorbing and dissipating cells is forced upwardthrough a sharp-edged orifice which regulates the release of fluidcommensurate with the force of impact. The outermost diaphragm panel iscomposed of a material having a low coefficient of friction to aid insafely redirecting the vehicle safely subsequent to impact.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDwm I972 3.672.657

sumznrz Jrace 0%01063 Grew/i a fi e Duane $11370 Mafia Seeyvapll W .5WKWaM LIQUID SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to constructions forprotecting fixed vertical surfaces such as restraining fences orrailings from the effects of the force of impact due to a collidingvehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to energy absorbingand dissipating devices for absorbing and dissipating the energy of acollision of a vehicle with a fixed vertical surface and deflecting saidvehicle safely away from said fixed surface with minimum injury to thedriver of the vehicle and negligible damage to the protected verticalsurface.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is conventional practice to protectstationary vertical structures such as walls and railings from damagedue to an impacting vehicle by placing fixed steel or concrete abutmentson pipes or the like in front of the wall or railing, whereby theabutment or pipe absorbs the damage, but not the shock of the impact,thus sparing the wall or railing. Such devices are only of limited valuesince the shock of impact is not absorbed by the pipe or abutment; andthe driver and passengers in the impacting vehicle still face possibleinjury. Further, the vehicle may be deflected back into the vehiculartraffic route, or against other fixed structures nearby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that a plurality ofincompressible fluid filled energy dissipating and absorbing bufferelements, arranged in a novel structure comprising movable diaphragmfender members supporting said buffers in spaced relation to a fixedvertical surface, provide a device which protects the fixed verticalsurface from damage due to the force of an impacting vehicle. Such novelstructure also possesses inherent capabilities of absorbing anddissipating the force of impact before it reaches said fixed verticalsurface, and of deflecting the impacting vehicle at an angle ofapproximately 1 to the plane of said fixed vertical surface, enablingthe driver to maintain control of the vehicle subsequent to impact.Also, by absorbing the shock of impact, the present invention reducesthe forces on the vehicle, thereby reducing materially the degree ofphysical damage to the vehicle.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea novel construction for protecting fixed vertical surfaces such aswalls or the like which includes a plurality of collapsibleincompressible fluid filled energy absorbing and dissipating buffermembers disposed in spaced relation in front of said fixed verticalsurface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelenergy absorbing and dissipating construction which includes severalenergy dissipating buffer elements, each linearly disposed in spacedapart relation in front of the fixed vertical surface, wherein each lineor row of buffer elements is separated and supported by movablediaphragm fender members disposed in substantially parallel planes infront of said fixed vertical surface and partly supported by restrainingcables which, in combination with said vertical surface, maintain atrapezoidal support configuration for the outermost of said fendermembers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impact bufferingdevice comprising at least one outer surface comprised of articulateddiaphragm fender panels assembled to overlap adjacent panels whereby acolliding vehicle is deflected from said buffer device at a relativelylow angle due, in part, to the articulated, overlapping construction ofsaid outer surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelstructure for protecting a fixed vertical surface from damage due toimpact including rows of energy absorbing and dissipating bufferelements alternately disposed in spaced relation between movablediaphragm fender members in front of said fixed vertical surface,wherein the outermost diaphragm fender member, which comes into contactwith the impacting vehicle, comprises a surface having a low coefficientof friction to aid in properly deflecting said vehicle subsequent toimpact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impact cushioningdevice comprising a plurality of fluid-filled flexible containers withorifices therein to relieve and regulate internal pressures wherebyimpact energies which are uniformly distributed amongst the bufferelements by means of the diaphragm fender members are effectivelydissipated at safe, controlled rates.

An additional object of the invention is to provide containment meanswhich coact with the incompressible fluid filled energy absorbing anddissipating buffer elements to prevent the escape of fluid from saidbuffer members during impact.

A further object of the invention is to provide containment means whichcoact with the buffer elements to return fluid to said buffer elementssubsequent to impact.

Still another object of the invention is to provide slide platespositioned between the diaphragm fender members and the road or tracksurface to enhance the ability of the fender members to move underimpact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thespecification which follows and from the drawings to which reference isnow made.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the construction ofthis invention shown in place protecting a fixed vertical wall;

FIG. 2 is a frontal elevation view of a portion of the construction ofFIG. 1, showing the position of the containment bags prior to impact;

FIG. 3 is a frontal elevation view similar to FIG. 2, showing theposition of the containment bags at impact;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the construction of this invention showing therelative position of the energy absorbing and dissipating bufferelements and diaphragm fender members at the moment of impact;

FIG. 5 is a detail illustration of one of the flexible collapsibleincompressible fluid filled energy absorbing and dissipating bufferelements and containment sacks, showing in particular the orificedinsert through which fluid flows at impact, and a suggested method ofmounting the buffer elements on the diaphragm fender members;

FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of a preferred construction for joining theplate-like elements which form the two outermost diaphragm fenderelements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and2. A fixed vertical surface such as a restraining wall or railing 10which is normally located adjacent a vehicular route of travel such as ahighway or auto race track is sought to be protected. The main purposeof this invention is to protect the vehicles and the occupants thereoffrom damage and injury upon collision of such vehicle with a structuresuch as the wall 10, as well as protecting the wall itself.

A first row A of flexible, collapsible incompressible fluid containingenergy absorbing and dissipating buffer elements R2 are linearlydisposed immediately in front of and adjacent wall 10 along the entireextent of the wall 10 to be protected. On the side of buffer elements 12opposite the wall 10 is positioned a movable, generally vertical firstdiaphragm fender member 14. Another row B" of buffer elements 12 islinearly disposed in front of and adjacent said first diaphragm fendermember 14. In a similar manner, a second movable diaphragm fender member16 is positioned on the opposite side of said second row of bufferelements 12, and a third row C of buffer elements 12 is linearlypositioned adjacent to and along the extent of the front side ofdiaphragm fender member 16.

On the opposite side of buffer elements 12 forming row C, is positioneda diaphragm fender member 17 comprising a series of movable, generallyvertical plate-like elements 18 overlapping each other and bolted one toanother at the point of overlap as shown in FIG. 6. In the preferredembodiment, bolts 20 extend through apertures in elements 18, which areseparated at the point of attachment by two resilient spacers 22, which,by way of example, can be composed of vinyl or a similar substance. Thispreferred construction permits the members 18 to articulate slightly ina horizontal plane or swing relative to each other, as will beexplained.

A fourth row D of buffer elements 12 is linearly disposed in front ofand adjacent diaphragm fender panel 17, and on the opposite side thereofis provided a diaphragm fender member 19 similarly constructed asdiaphragm fender member 17, and composed of substantially identicalplate-like elements 24, overlapping and fastened for articulatedmovement as shown in FIG. 6.

In the disclosed embodiment, diaphragm fender member 19 is immediatelyadjacent the vehicular trafiic, and receives the initial force of impactfrom a colliding vehicle. The outer surface of diaphragm fender member19 must also be capable of deflecting the impacting vehicle at a lowangle relative to the direction of extent of the impact cushioningdevice of the present invention. Therefore, plate-like elements 24 arepreferably formed of l A; inch thick fiberglassed, wood panels, which ischaracterized by a low coefficient of friction and high strength.

Since the inner-most diaphragm fender members do not receive the fullforce of impact delivered to the outer fender member, the three interiorpanels, for economic reasons, can be made of lesser expensive materials.For example, diaphragm fender member 17 may be made of I Va inch thickplywood sections, while the interior members 14, 16 may consist of $4 or2% inch plywood. It is apparent that varying degrees of strength can beachieved by using fender members of different thicknesses, and the abovedimensions are given only by way of example.

Buffer elements 12, which are shown in detail in FIG. 5, each comprise aflexible, collapsible fluid-filled container 26 supported on an adjacentdiaphragm fender member 14, l6, 17 or 19 by means of strap 28 and asolid keeper ring" 30 affixed to container 26. Inside of container 26,located near the open top thereof (in the vicinity of keeper ring 30 inthe embodiment of FIG. is positioned an insert 32 firmly secured to theinside of container 26. Sharp-edged orifices 34 are provided in insert32 to permit fluid to escape from container 26 only at a ratecommensurate with the energy of impact of a colliding vehicle.Containment means in the form of flexible bags 36 are affixed to theupper portion of containers 26 above the open end and insert 32 to catchand contain any fluid escaping from container 26 through orifices 34.This feature of the invention is important in installations adjacentauto race tracks, where it is required that water or any fluid substancedisplaced as a result of impact be kept off of the track. As will beexplained, containment bags 36 catch and return the escaped fluid. Thetops of containment bags 36 in a given row of bufier elements 12 arejoined together by means of a tether line of nylon or other suitablematerial (FIGS. 3, 4).

To maintain the impact cushioning device of the present invention in anupright position and enhance its ability to safely redirect thecolliding vehicle, several restraining cables 40 are fastened atintervals between the top portion of wall and a point intermediate thevertical extent of outermost diaphragm fender members 24. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, restraining cables 40 also extend forward (in thedirection of vehicle travel) from their attachment point at wall 10 tothe point where they are fastened to plate-like elements 24. Thisresults in each plate-like element 24 being held in position in aneasily collapsible trapezoidal configuration consisting of wall 10,element 24, and two successive restraining cables 40. As seen in FIGS. 1and 4, the relative positions of the restraining cables 40 enablediaphragm fender member 19 to collapse inwardly with a component ofmovement in the direction of travel of the impacting vehicle. Thiseasily collapsible configuration aids in preventing the vehicle frombecoming caught or snagged on the cushioning device, and is alsoimportant in properly and safely redirecting the vehicle away fromoncoming traffic. Cables 40 also coact to pull panels 24 into engagementwith row D of buffer elements 12, and holds the entire structure uprightby maintaining a compressive force on all parts of the device.Restraining cables 40 pass through apertures (not shown) suitablylocated in diaphragm fender members 14, 16 and 17.

Movable diaphragm fender members l4, l6, l7 and 19 are slidablypositioned atop several slide plates 42, located at suitable intervalsalong the extent of the wall 10 and perpendicular thereto. As the fendermembers are forced toward wall 10 during impact, they move laterally andslightly forward due to the aforesaid trapezoidal configuration formedby the attachment of restraining cables 40, on slide plates 42, ratherthan on the surface of the roadway or race track, which would have arelatively higher coefficient of friction.

The outermost diaphragm fender member 19 presents a fish scale effect toan oncoming colliding vehicle due to the manner in which plate-likeelements 24 overlap and are bolted together. This further prevents thecolliding vehicle from snagging on the sections which make up fendermember 19. To take advantage of this fish scale construction, the deviceof the present invention is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 fortraffic moving from left to right, as represented by the arrows in FIG.4. For an installation where the vehicular trafiic moves in the oppositedirection, the overlapping configuration of plate-like elements 24, and18, is reversed.

OPERATION As an impacting vehicle, moving in the direction of the arrowsin FIG. 4, impacts the cushioning device of the present invention,diaphragm fender member 19 is forced inwardly along slide plates 42, andagainst bufi'er elements 12 row D. This force is transmitted throughfender member 17 to row C of buffer elements 12, and thence to theremaining two rows of fender members 14, 16 and buffer elements 12. Thedevice assumes the configuration of FIG. 4, with the flexible bufferelements 12 being compressed to their collapsed position. The functionof the diaphragm fender members is to more effectively distribute theimpact energy uniformly to a larger member of buffer elements 12. Thepreferred bolt and resilient spacer construction joining elements 24together (FIG. 6) permits one plate-like element to articulate relativeto the adjoining member, thus enabling the outer fender members to givewithout separating.

Responsive to the compressive force acting upon each buffer element 12,fluid in container 26 is directed against the force of gravity upwardthrough orifices 34 in insert 32. Due to the sharp-edged configurationof orifices 34, the fluid in container 26 escapes only at a ratecommensurate with the energy of impact, enabling the buffer elements 12to offer a resistive force which absorbs and dissipates the impactingforce.

When inactive, containment bags 36 fold down on top of buffer elements12. When activated under impact, the fluid escaping through orifices 34is transmitted to bags 36. Subsequent to impact, the fluid, under theinfluence of gravity, returns through orifices 34 and drains back intocontainer 26. As the liquid returns to container 26 after impact, bufferelements 12 regain their original configuration, forcing diaphragmfender members 14, 16, 17 and 19 to return to the positions shown inFIG. 1. Thus, the buffer elements are almost instantaneously ready toreceive the next impact.

Several details of construction of the disclosed invention operateseverally and jointly to properly deflect the colliding vehicle from thebuffer device at a very low angle, thus enabling the driver to maintaincontrol of the vehicle and preventing the vehicle from bouncing" backinto the lane of moving traffic adjacent the wall 10. First, theoverlapping diaphragm fender panel construction (FIG. 6) and ability ofthe panels to articulate with respect to each other aid in redirectingthe colliding vehicle at a low angle of deflection. Second, the lowcoefficient of friction of fiberglass members 24 comprising diaphragmfender members 19 enables the car to slide" off the buffer device to acertain extent, and eliminates any rebounding" effect. Thus, the vehicleis safely redirected at a low angle away from the protected surface 10.It has been found through testing, for example, that the fourlayercushion device of the preferred embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-4 hassafely withstood impacts of from 40 to 70 miles per hour, whiledeflecting the vehicle at an angle of approximately l from the directionof extent of the buffer device. The vehicle at all times was maintainedunder control by the driver, without injury to the driver or toprotected wall 10. Likewise, only minimal damage to the collidingvehicle occurred due to the energy absorbing and dissipating capabilityof buffer elements 12.

The embodiments disclosed are exemplary of the type of configurationwhich may be used with ordinary fixed vertical structures which areadjacent or near routes of vehicular traftic. The most common type ofsuch structures are restraining walls and railings. However, the deviceof the present invention may be used to protect bridge abutments,traffic signals, and similar devices. It will be apparent to the skilledengineer that the configuration of the diaphragms and the buffer elementarrangement will to some degree be dictated by the configuration of theconstruction with which it is to be associated. Such adaptations ofconfigurations are well within the skill of the art and are within thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. An impact absorbing safety barrier for a rigid elongated energyabsorbing and dissipating means comprising a plurality of collapsiblemembers extending along said vertical member and forwardly thereof in aseries of adjacent rows;

diaphragm means comprising a plurality of diaphragm panels disposedintermediate preselected ones of said series of rows, the forwardmost ofsaid diaphragm panels in a direction removed from said vertical memberbeing comprised of a multiplicity of panel sections positioned inoverlapping relation and resiliently joined to one another forpermitting articulation of said panel sections and enhancing the abilityof said safety barriers for effecting deflection at a relatively lowangle;

vertical member such as a restraining wall or the like, comprisandnon-rigid means coupling said forwardmost diaphragm panel to saidvertical member at spaced intervals for retaining said safety barrier inassembled relation.

2. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 wherein:

said nomrigid means comprises a plurality of restraining cablesextending between said vertical member and said forwardmost diaphragmmember such that a trapezoidal configuration is formed by said verticalmember, said outermost diaphragm fender member, and an adjacent two ofsaid restraining cable means whereby an impact will cause said outermostdiaphragm member to move in a forward as well as a lateral direction soas to safely redirect said vehicle subsequent to impact.

3. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 including:

slide plate means positioned beneath said movable diaphragm memberswhereby an impact will cause said fender members to slide along thesurface of said slide plates.

4. The impact absorbing buffer of claim 1 wherein:

said collapsible members are flexible cylindrical structures containingan incompressible fluid and each having orifice means therein forreleasing said fluid at a rate commensurate with the energy of impactapplied to said structures.

5. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 4 including:

containment means associated with each of said cylindrical structuresfor capturin and returning the fluid released from each of sar cylmrical structures of said energy absorbing and dissipating means wherebyfluid is prevented from escaping from said energy absorbing anddissipating means during an impact by entering said containment means.

6. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 wherein:

said diaphragm fender members at the outermost position from saidvertical member are relatively thicker than said diaphragm fendermembers at the innermost positions from said vertical member.

7. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 6 wherein:

the outer vertical surface of the movable diaphragm member furthestremoved from said vertical member comprises a material having arelatively low coefficient of friction which aids in effecting delectionfrom said furthest removed diaphragm member at a substantially lowangle.

8. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 7 wherein said materialis fiberglass.

1. An impact absorbing safety barrier for a rigid elongated vertical member such as a restraining wall or the like, comprising: energy absorbing and dissipating means comprising a plurality of collapsible members extending along said vertical member and forwardly thereof in a series of adjacent rows; diaphragm means comprising a plurality of diaphragm panels disposed intermediate preselected ones of said series of rows, the forwardmost of said diaphragm panels in a direction removed from said vertical member being comprised of a multiplicity of panel sections positioned in overlapping relation and resiliently joined to one another for permitting articulation of said panel sections and enhancing the ability of said safety barriers for effecting deflection at a relatively low angle; and non-rigid means coupling said forwardmost diaphragm panel to said vertical member at spaced intervals for retaining said safety barrier in assembled relation.
 2. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 wherein: said non-rigid means comprises a plurality of restraining cables extending between said vertical member and said forwardmost diaphragm member such that a trapezoidal configuration is formed by said vertical member, said outermost diaphragm fender member, and an adjacent two of said restraining cable means whereby an impact will cause said outermost diaphragm member to move in a forward as well as a lateral direction so as to safely redirect said vehicle subsequent to impact.
 3. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 including: slide plate means positioned beneath said movable diaphragm members whereby an impact will cause said fender members to slide along the surface of said slide plates.
 4. The impact absorbing buffer of claim 1 wherein: said collapsible members are flexible cylindrical structures containing an incompressible fluid and each having orifice means therein for releasing said fluid at a rate commensurate with the energy of impact applied to said structures.
 5. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 4 including: containment means associated with each of said cylindrical structures for capturing and returning the fluid released from each of said cylindrical structures of said energy absorbing and dissipating means whereby fluid is prevented from escaping from said energy absorbing and dissipating means during an impact by entering said containment means.
 6. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 1 wherein: said diaphragm fender members at the outermost position from said vertical member are relatively thicker than said diaphragm fender members at the innermost positions from said vertical member.
 7. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 6 wherein: the outer vertical surface of the movable diaphragm member furthest removed from said vertical member comprises a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction which aids in effecting delection from said furthest removed diaphragm member at a substantially low angle.
 8. The impact absorbing safety buffer of claim 7 wherein said material is fiberglass. 